Southern Augusta eyed for sports park

The refrains from people who live near the site of a proposed motocross track and sports park are familiar: They say the plan would provide a recreational boost for young people, but they wonder about the location and the noise the park would generate.

Augusta Expoland officials in March nixed a similar plan by developer Terry Argenbright to build the park in Fishersville. Now, he's targeting a 44.5-acre site adjacent to the Pilot Travel Center in Greenville.

Argenbright is awaiting the results of a traffic impact study before proceeding with a special-use permit application with the Augusta County Board of Zoning Appeals.

Jacob Hutchinson, 18, a Bridgewater College freshman, said many young people in the area are excited about the possibility of the motocross track and other proposed attractions, including paintball, mountain biking and indoor skateboarding.

Hutchinson, a star quarterback on Riverheads High School's 2006 state championship football team, said only so many young people participate in football, basketball and other team sports.

"There are a lot of kids who don't have things to do," said Hutchinson, who lives on old Greenville School Road.

He said the track and sports park would get more young people out of their homes and away from a sedentary lifestyle.

"They just sit inside," he said of his friends. Hutchinson said young people who go to Staunton go there just to shop.

Cynthia Williams and her family live on McClures Mill Road on a farm just over a hill from the motocross site. She agrees on the benefits of the park but wonders about a key potential drawback.

"I'm interested in a noise test," Williams said. "I'm very concerned. The noise issue concerns me."

Riverheads High School teacher David Moody, who lives with his family on Indian Ridge Road a short distance from the proposed site, said he wants to see more community input before the county zoning board discusses the project. He said he hopes a community meeting will be held.

Moody wonders whether Greenville is the best location.

Argenbright's plan to open the track at Expoland sparked controversy in Fishersville, with backers and opponents firing off letters to the editor and lobbying officials over the project.

County officials backed it, but Expoland's board reversed course, voting 3-2 against it, citing concerns about conflicts with other events.
Bob Stuart is a staff writer for The News Virginian in Waynesboro.